Fantasy baseball pitcher rankings, lineup advice for Tuesday’s MLB games

Note: This file will be updated with any overnight pitching changes or weather-related game postponements, along with the addition of the latest MLB game odds as of the indicated time of publication.

Thanks to the opening series in Korea, Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow and San Diego Padres RHP Yu Darvish make their third starts of the young season on Tuesday, the same day the No. 5 starters for several teams make their 2024 debuts.

Glasnow, who has never made more than last year’s 21 starts in any MLB season, has thrown 77 and 81 pitches in his first two outings, as the Dodgers act cautiously with their expensive, yet brittle ace. Perhaps Glasnow is permitted to throw 90 pitches against the rival Giants.

Darvish, who failed to make 30 starts last season for the first time in a full season since 2018, hosts the Cardinals — a franchise against which he boasts a 3.12 ERA and a 1.019 WHIP, though he has won only two of those eight starts. Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado has three home runs in 20 career AB versus Darvish, who also has been handled more carefully than usual, falling short of 80 pitches in both of his first two outings.

Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers, the lone teams not on Monday’s original schedule, open Tuesday’s slate at 4:10 p.m. ET, with the mildly intriguing RHP Louie Varland facing the unappealing veteran RHP Jakob Junis, more of a swingman type. Varland has a strikeout arsenal and solid command of four pitches (fastball, cutter, slider, changeup), but he must avoid his home run issues from 2023 (16 home runs in 68 innings).

Finally, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals are the lone teams not scheduled to play on Tuesday, so be aware, daily leaguers.

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Cleveland Guardians RHP Shane Bieber fanned 11 members of the Oakland Athletics over six excellent innings last week, but like the proverbial tree falling in the lonely forest, it was the Athletics, so who knows what it really means, if anything? Bieber gets a tougher test versus the Seattle Mariners. Bieber’s fastball velocity, down in recent, injury-filled seasons, was back up to 92.3 mph at Oakland, and he relied quite a bit on his adjusted changeup. The Mariners, aiming to strike out less after finishing second to the Twins in whiffs last season, struck out 45 times in the opening series against the Boston Red Sox, the most per PA in the league.

Atlanta Braves RHP Reynaldo Lopez (6.3% rostered in ESPN leagues) pitched out of various bullpens over the past two seasons, but Atlanta gave him a shot to start this spring, and he beat out RHP Bryce Elder and others for the No. 5 rotation spot. Lopez last started regularly in 2020 for the Chicago White Sox and he was never a notable strikeout pitcher in the role. He also permitted 35 home runs during the 2019 season for the White Sox. Fantasy managers may want to see what happens versus the White Sox (revenge!) before investing, but any starter on a potential 100-win team warrants interest. The White Sox counter with young LHP Garrett Crochet (17.6%), who fanned eight hitters from the Detroit Tigers in his starting debut and is one of the most-added pitchers in ESPN leagues. Atlanta’s offense will be a significant, concerning test.

Circling back to Giants-Dodgers, fantasy managers who invested in Giants RHP Logan Webb probably will never consider sitting him, but his career numbers against much of the Dodgers lineup are troubling. Current Dodgers carry a .327/.380/.515 line against him, with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman typical instigators (.403, 23-for-57 combined), and Max Muncy (8-for-22, 3 HR, five walks) and James Outman (4-for-6) thriving as well. Shohei Ohtani is 2-for-3 versus Webb with a double. The Dodgers are going to hammer so many pitchers this season. It’s OK to bench your ace Webb for this outing, yet still expect a fantastic season.

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Pitchers are ranked in order of their Forecaster/Daily Notes projected fantasy points (FPTS), using ESPN’s standard scoring system (2 points per win, minus-2 per loss, 3 per inning, 1 per K, minus-1 apiece per hit or walk allowed, minus-2 per earned run allowed).

T: The pitcher’s handedness. OPP: Opposing team. RST%: The pitcher’s roster percentage in ESPN leagues. W% is the team’s win probability using ESPN projections, IP is innings pitched, ER is earned runs allowed and K is strikeouts.

If a team is planning on using an “opener” to start their game, but will rely on a “bulk pitcher” to follow him on the mound after 1-2 innings, the bulk pitcher is listed and indicated with an asterisk.

To get the latest information on each team’s bullpen hierarchy, as well as which pitchers might be facing a bit of fatigue and who might be the most likely suspects to vulture a save or pick up a surprise hold in their stead, check out the latest Closer Chart, which will be updated every morning.

Best and worst hitters from the day are generated by THE BAT X, a projection system created by Derek Carty using advanced methods like those used in MLB front offices, accounting for a variety of factors including player talent, ballparks, bullpens, weather, umpires, defense, catcher pitch-framing, and lots more.

Josh Bell (MIA, 1B — 44%) vs. Tyler Anderson

Jake Burger (MIA, 3B — 37%) vs. Anderson

Sal Frelick (MIL, RF — 10%) vs. Louie Varland

Bryan De La Cruz (MIA, LF — 11%) vs. Anderson

Rhys Hoskins (MIL, 1B — 42%) vs. Varland

Anthony Rendon (LAA, 3B — 2%) at Jesus Luzardo

Andrew Benintendi (CHW, LF — 23%) vs. Reynaldo Lopez

Taylor Ward (LAA, LF — 16%) at Luzardo

Tyler O’Neill (BOS, LF — 13%) at Alex Wood

Luis Rengifo (LAA, 2B — 46%) at Luzardo

Wyatt Langford (TEX, LF — 74%) at Zach Eflin

Teoscar Hernandez (LAD, RF — 72%) vs. Logan Webb